Firearm support connector / Rifle Rest

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for connecting a firearm to a support having an opening which permits a user to snap a firearm into and out of the support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to application 63/226,423 filed on Jul. 28, 2021.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC AND AN INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY AN INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When aiming a firearm, or looking through an optic device, it is often desirable to use a mechanical support. A rifle with an optic can easily weigh 7 pounds or more. Trying to support a rifle in a standing position can fatigue a person very quickly. As a person fatigues, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold a rifle steady either for aiming or for looking through an optic. For this reason, mechanical supports are often used.

Mechanical supports vary widely from natural simple items such as tree limbs, sticks, or piles of rocks, to complicated high-tech devices such as carbon fiber tripods with ball heads and adjustable friction mounts. Rifle support

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98.

Not Applicable

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for connecting a firearm to a support having an opening which permits a user to removably insert and remove a firearm into and out of the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows front (end) view of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a foam insert of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of a foam insert of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a top-front isometric view of a foam insert of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus for connecting a firearm to a support. The apparatus comprises a body 100 having an opening 106 in its peripheral edge. In a preferred embodiment, the body 100 is generally the shape of a partial cylindrical shell 102. The body 100 is sized such that a portion of a rifle may fit, at least partially, inside a cavity 104 the body 100. In a preferred embodiment, the opening 106 extends less than 180 degrees around the body. In a preferred embodiment, the opening 106 has a width less than a dimension of the firearm to which the apparatus is configured to connect.

The apparatus is further preferably configured with an attachment point 108 by which the body 100 is attachable to a support. This attachment between the body 100 and support may be permanent/integral. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is selectively and non-destructively removable from the support. A wide variety of means for attaching a body 100 or head to a support are well known in the art. These include, but are not limited to, combinations of male and female threaded members configured to cooperatively interact, various quick-detach systems, clamps, suction cups, magnets, and clamps to name a few. In certain embodiments, the attachment point is movable relative to the cavity 104 of the body.

The material(s) from which the apparatus is constructed is preferably selected such that the apparatus is non-destructively deformable. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is constructed, at least partially from a polymer or plastic. The degree to which the apparatus deforms is preferably selected by a combination of materials from which the support is constructed and the dimensions of support (including, but not limited to, thickness and length). In certain embodiments, the material support material is fiber reinforced. In certain embodiments, at least the inner surface of the body 100 is coated with, or manufactured from, a material selected such that it substantially prevents scratching or marring of the firearm by the body when the firearm is inserted into the apparatus. In certain embodiments, the inner surface of the body 100 is coated with, or manufactured from, a material which provides a desirable coefficient of friction between the firearm and the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the body 100 of the apparatus is configured to accept a removable insert 500. In a preferred embodiment, the removable insert 500 is comprised, at least partially, of open-cell foam. In an alternative embodiment, the removable insert is comprised of a fillable shell and is filled with a granular or fibrous material. In a preferred embodiment, the removable insert is removably attachable to the body 100 using a hook and loop fastening system. In a preferred embodiment, the loop portion of the hook and loop fastening system 112 is attached to the body 100 of the apparatus and the hook portion of the hook and loop fastening system 510 is attached to the removable insert 500. In an alternative embodiment, the hook and loop portions are reversed. In an alternative embodiment, the rigidity of the removable insert 500 exerts pressure against the body 100 thereby retaining the removable insert in place. In yet another alternative embodiment, the interior of the body 100 has a portion with a reduced or increased dimension configured to interface with a feature of the removable insert 500 to resist movement of the removable insert 500 relative to the body 100. In a preferred embodiment, the removable insert 500 has areas of differing thickness. In certain embodiments, the removable insert is sized to exceed the inner diameter of the body of the apparatus. The ends 504 of the removable insert 500 may be attached using hook-and-loop fastening system features 508 to the outside of the body 100 where the removable insert 504 overlaps with hook-and-loop fastening system features 110 the outside of the body 100 of the apparatus. In certain embodiments, the removable insert 500 is configured with features 502 configured to resist rotation of the removable insert 500 relative to the body 100.

The apparatus is preferably used in the following manner. The apparatus is connected to a support. The support may be a portable support such as a monopod, bipod, or tripod. The support may also be a fixed support, such as vehicle, vessel, wall or other structure. The opening 106 of the apparatus is preferably positioned opposite the attachment point 108. The opening 106 of the apparatus is preferably smaller than a dimension of the firearm thereby, at least partially, resisting the entry or removal of the firearm into and out of, the body 100 of the apparatus.

A firearm is then preferably inserted into the cavity 104 of the body 100. The firearm may be inserted into the apparatus by placing the firearm adjacent the opening 106 of the body 100 and applying sufficient force on the firearm (or apparatus body) in the direction of the cavity 104 of the body 100 of the apparatus (or direction of the firearm) that the shell 102 of the apparatus deforms thereby increasing the size of the opening 106 in the body 100 and permitting passage of the firearm into the cavity 104 of the apparatus. Alternatively, a firearm may be inserted into an end of the body 100 and moved along the length of the body 100 a desired distance. In a preferred case, this distance will be until a dimension of the firearm exceeds the size of the opening 106 of the body 100. An another alternative, the firearm may be rotated into an orientation where the firearm may be inserted into the opening 106 of the body 100 of the apparatus without deforming shell 102, and then rotated into another orientation such that a dimension of the firearm now exceeds the width of the opening 106 thereby obstructing detachment of the support from the firearm.

A firearm is preferably removed from the body 100 of the apparatus by applying force on the firearm in the direction of the opening 106 in the body 100 of the apparatus (or force on the apparatus away from the cavity 104 in the body 100 of the apparatus). This force is applied until the shell 102 deforms sufficiently to increase the width of the opening 106 in the body 100 to that of a dimension of the firearm thereby permitting the firearm to be removed. Alternatively, the firearm may be moved lengthwise relative to the body 100 of the apparatus until the firearm is no longer inside the cavity 104 of the apparatus or a dimension of the firearm does not exceed the width of the opening 106 in the body and the firearm may be removed from the apparatus without deforming the shell 102 of the apparatus.

The best known method of making and using the apparatus are disclosed herein. Although various materials, configurations, and methods are disclosed, these are not exhaustive and, except where expressly indicated, should not be interpreted as excluding other alternatives. 

1. An apparatus configured to attach a firearm to a support comprising: A) a body member having interior and exterior surfaces defining the outer perimeter of a central cavity open at two opposite lateral ends: I) wherein the open lateral ends are connected by a length-wise opening in the outer perimeter of the body, and II) wherein the widest point of the central cavity is not at the length-wise opening in the outer perimeter of the body; and B) means to attach said body member to a plurality of support members.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body member is constructed from a substantially elastic deformable material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the openings of the opposite lateral ends are smaller at the openings than at the center of the central cavity.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: A) a removable insert configured to fit interior the body member around the perimeter of the central cavity wherein the removable insert is configured fit substantially between the openings of the opposite lateral ends of the central cavity.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable insert is configured to extend beyond the outer perimeter when installed in the body.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the removable insert is configured with means for resisting rotation of the removable insert relative to the body.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the portion of the removable insert configured to extend beyond the outer perimeter further comprises: A) means for removably attaching said removable insert to the exterior of the body.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for removably attaching said removable insert to the exterior of the body comprise: A) hook-and-loop closure material attached to the removable insert.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for removably attaching said removable insert to the exterior of the body comprise: A) hook-and-loop closure material attached to the exterior of the body.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable insert comprises open-cell foam.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the removable insert is not uniformly thick.
 12. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable insert further comprises: A) an insert cavity configured to accept and retain fill material, and B) a reclosable opening in fluid communication with the insert cavity configured to permit fill material to be inserted into and removed from the insert cavity.
 13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the interior of the body member comprises a material having a higher coefficient of friction than the body member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to attach said body member to a plurality of support members comprise: A) a threaded aperture.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to attach said body member to a plurality of support members are integral to support members. 